Heavy by Dan Franklin

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Heavy by Dan Franklin

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Summary

A fascinating investigation into what defines 'heavy' in music and how heaviness transfuses culture.

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Heavy by Dan Franklin

'A weighty discussion of metal, for both passionate fans and neophytes' Guardian 'Heavy opens an ornate portal into a murky subculture, illuminating the marginalia as well as the big beasts' Sunday Times What exactly is heavy metal music? How deep do its roots go? Long established as an undeniable force in culture, metal traces its roots back to leather-clad iron men like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, who imbued their music with a mysterious and raw undercurrent of power. Heavy unearths this elusive force, delving deep into the fertile culture that allowed a distinctive new sound to flourish and flaying the source material to get to the beating heart of the music. From the imminent threat of nuclear apocalypse that gave rise to Metallica's brand of volatile thrash metal to Bloodbath and Carcass, the death metal bands resurrecting the horror of medieval art. But there are always more lines to be drawn. Cradle of Filth and Ulver trade in the transgressive impulses of gothic literature; Pantera lay bare Nietzsche's 'superman'; getting high leads to the escapist sci-fi dirges of Sleep and Electric Wizard; while the recovery of long-buried urns in the seventeenth century holds the key to the drone of Sunn O))). Dissecting music that resonates with millions, Heavy sees Slipknot wrestling with the trauma of 9/11, Alice in Chains exposing the wounds of Vietnam and Iron Maiden conjuring visions of a heroic England. Powerful, evocative and sometimes sinister, it gives shape and meaning to the terrible beauty of metal.
Fascinating. . powerful -- Elif Shafak * The Spectator *
A weighty discussion of metal, for both passionate fans and neophytes . . . Yet what elevates Heavy from being a simple love letter to metal is the way in which Franklin situates heaviness within the "iron-rich bloodline running through the bedrock of culture" . . . a book that pulls off the trick of offering something to both passionate fans and neophytes -- Keith Kahn-Harris * Guardian *
Heavy opens an ornate portal into a murky subculture, illuminating the marginalia as well as the big beasts -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *
A wildly entertaining journey into the heart of musical darkness -- Liam Cagney * Irish Times *
Dan Franklin has written about metal and heavy music for over ten years. He is a contributor to music and pop culture website The Quietus. Heavy is his first book.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781472131058
ISBN 10 1472131053
Title Heavy
Author Dan Franklin
Condition Unavailable
Binding type Hardback
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Year published 2020-03-19
Number of pages 304
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable